Another three busses full of refugees heading to Imathia and Pieria, have left Idomeni earlier today. Both cities are located in the regional unit of Macedonia in northern Greece. Refugees will be hosted in official camps until they are supposedly relocated.
However, refugees have been protesting today as well, asking to cross the borders. This afternoon a group of Pakistanis and Afghans temporarily occupied the train tracks next to Idomeni. A few hours earlier, a group of refugees at the city of Kilkis in northern Greece also demonstrated at the overpass of Polykastro, without nevertheless obstructing circulation.
More buses are waiting on site for refugees reluctant to leave the border. So far, mostly families with children who cannot tolerate the dire conditions have chosen to move to official camps. Another approximately 11.600 people remain at the Greek-Macedonian border according to the latest official count on Saturday.
Giorgos Kyritsis, spokesman of the Greek agency coordinating response to the refugee crisis, said the operation to evacuate Idomeni will intensify from Monday, also creating more spots at camps and shelters for refugees.
In the mid time, refugee and migrants arrivals on Greece’s Aegean islands have slowed substantially, after the EU Turkey deal has gone into effect.